Make no mistake about it, this is now Coach Frank Martin's basketball team at South Carolina now. He has "his players" in place for the 2013-14 season as he pretty much cleaned house to make room for his new recruits.

Gone is Damien Leonard, Eric Smith, RJ Slawson and Brian Richardson. They will be missed but this is best for the program. With four players leaving, in addition to seniors Lakeem Jackson and LaShay Page, Carolina will add seven newcomers for the upcoming season.

Anyone who follows Gamecock basketball knew this was bound to happen. You could see it on Coach Martin's face this past season, he hated losing and the team just did not have his style of play.

This is a new chapter for USC basketball and one we welcome. We are excited for the future of the Gamecocks basketball program.

The first South Carolina football player to hear his named called in the NFL Draft was safety D.J. Swearinger. The Houston Texans took him in the second round of the NFL draft as taken 57th overall by Houston.

The senior started 12 games last season and finished with 79 tackles, two forced fumbles and seven pass breakups. He also returned an interception and a fumble for touchdowns.

The Texans got a playmaker who should get action in 2013 as it is hard to keep D.J. off the field.

Here is video of him as he got the news:

2012 stats: 79 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 ints., 7 pass breakups, 2 FR, 2 FF

Career stats: 244 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 6 ints., 2 FR, 2 FF

Good luck D.J. as I am sure you will make Gamecock Nation proud.

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected former South Carolina football player Ace Sanders in the fourth round of the NFL Draft.

Sanders set a record in 2012 with 429 yards on 28 punt returns. He also caught 45 passes for 531 yards and nine touchdowns. He should work out well for Jacksonville as they took him as the 101st pick.

2012 stats: 45, 531 yards, 9 TDs, 2 punt return TDs

Career stats: 99 catches, 1,230 yards, 13 TDs, 3 punt return TDs

Good luck Ace, make all the Gamecocks proud.

South Carolina basketball had a "you win some, you lose some" kind of week recently as they missed out on the recruitment of Darryl Reynolds yet landed Demetrius Henry.

Darryl Reynolds, a power forward, selected Villanova over the Gamecocks and Utah on Tuesday. Then yesterday, 2013 forward recruit Demetrius Henry announced his commitment to the Gamecocks. So at least the week ended on a good note, right?

The Gamecocks and the fans had hope to land both to add key depth around the rim. Getting one out of the two is fine as it adds to the many building blocks for Coach Frank Martin in charting out a new direction for this program. A direction we are excited about.

We hate to see Reynolds chose 'Nova but good luck to him playing close to home.

As for Henry, the Gamecocks get the kind of low-post presence needed in Columbia. I venture to say we got the better of the two.

Henry is one of eight new faces on the team, including transfer Tyrone Johnson, for the Gamecocks next season. This seals it now as this is Coach Martin's team now.

It's been a season of sweeps. Excluding a season opening series win over Missouri, USC has either swept or been swept. They've been swept by Arkansas and Florida, but they've swept Texas A&M, Tennessee, a now, Kentucky.

The Wildcats were a Top 20 team before the sweep. Carolina trailed in all three games but responded in all three as well. In the second Saturday game Carolina broke a 64 game UK streak. The Wildcats hadn't lost a game when leading after 7 innings since 2011. Carolina's comeback and extra innings win ended that.

Pitching took a step forward. Carolina's pitching has been plainly disappointing and seemed headed for doom, until this weekend. Belcher continues to act like a senior Ace and has been great. Jordan Montgomery seems to be back and should be as good as he was before. Westmoreland and Webb continue to be exceptional out of the bullpen. To really make some post season noise, USC needs a third starter. On Sunday they had one. Jack Wynkoop made the sweep possible with his performance on Sunday. If he can pitch like that consistently another piece of the puzzle is in place.

Bullpen still needs help. Beyond Westmoreland and Webb there are zero consistent options. There is talent, but they haven't gotten outs and routinely walk people. Carolina needs people to step up for the next two weekends.

Stability. The line up looks like its stabilizing. Connor Bright has locked down right field, and Brison Celek looks to be making a claim to DH. Choosing our best players and going with them should help our overall batting results.

Postseason. USC is in position for a regional, but not a national seed. That all could change in the next two weeks for better or worse. Carolina travels to LSU then comes home to play Vandy. Win both of those series and a national seed is in play. Lose both and a regional is in jeopardy. A split? That probably keeps Carolina where they are.

Up next. South Carolina plays at Gardner Webb on Tuesday. The away game is rare for midweek, but Shelby, NC is Coach Holbrook's hometown.

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According to The Lufkin News, current South Carolina men's basketball associate coach Brad Underwood will be named the next head coach of Stephen F. Austin.

This could happen as "early as Tuesday." Underwood has spent one year at USC with Coach Frank Martin.

It is not a complete shock to see him go as he felt shafted after Kansas State did not name him the top guy after Martin left. So the yearn to be a head coach was a known itch and one he needed to satisfy. The chance to be part of the Lumberjack staff appears to be a situation ripe for him in his coaching career and we here at LOHD wish him the best if he decides to go.

We know Coach Frank Martin will fill the gap with a top assistant. The 2013-14 squad will have new faces, both with players and now with a coach. Regardless, we trust Martin to take USC basketball to a new respectable level.

The University of South Carolina did the right thing when they rewarded women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley a contract extension. Staley will receive a three-year extension that will keep her happy until around the 2018-19 season. She will also get a 125,000 dollar raise and now is in that 850k range which makes her one of the highest paid coaches in the SEC.

This was the right move for USC as she is a great coach and has built a solid foundation for success. Staley has led the Gamecocks to the NCAA Tournament in each of the past two seasons and help to bring exposure to a emerging program.

In our humble opinion, she is worth every penny. Good job, Ray Tanner. Now Dawn just keep climbing to the top as you are making us Gamecock fans proud.

Thanks Clemson for the recent rash of vandalism both at USC and in a hotel room by your beloved DeAndre Hopkins. 

It appears Mr. Hopkins does not understand how to act in a hotel room. This too brings unwanted attention to Clemson. Along with this, someone decided painting a Tiger Paw on the field at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia was a good idea. The paw also was painted on one of the train cars known as "Cockabooses" parked next to the stadium, along with the phrase "Go Tigers."

I for one says thank you Clemson. Your true colors shine....

As South Carolina fans, we love it when your fans or players do stupid things to bring bad exposure to the school. Also the vandalism at the South Carolina football stadium was in a way needed to help bring more fuel to the rivalary as USC has now beaten you four times in a row on the gridiron. It has become commonplace to beat you in football. The new crop of talent on the Gamecocks football team needed a reason to beat you again and you supplied it. Expect this to be used against you in the fall.

The South Carolina basketball team needs to land this local product as Seventh Woods is a straight baller...check this video of this Class of 2016 recruit:

Oh, keep in mind he is just 14 years old.

The "Jadeveon Clowney - Magnificent 7" video offered without further words: